The Conservancy has collaborated with DEEP to support several research projects, including nanotag Rail tracking and duck banding. Our staff assisted with the capture and tagging of Clapper Rails (Rallus crepitans) with nanotag technology, in order to estimate adult annual survival rate. Unlike traditional banding, which requires recapture in order to collect data, nanotags emit recorded frequencies when within a certain radius from an antenna detection station. Utilizing this form of tracking enables DEEP to record movement patterns and survival rates.

Each fall our staff also takes part in DEEP's waterfowl banding program, which assists the state in tracking species distribution, movement, harvest rate, and survival rate. When banding, our aviculturists capture wild birds and place a metal ID band around their foot after recording the age and gender of the bird. Immediately after banding, the birds are released back into the wild and the data is sent to DEEP for their records. Previously, our aviculturists have banded Mallards, Wood Ducks, American Black Ducks, and American Wigeon throughout the fall and winter months. For two weeks every June, our aviculturists also venture out and assist waterfowl biologists throughout Connecticut with Canada Goose banding. ​

DEEP bobcat research

​In addition to avian research, The Conservancy has also assisted DEEP Wildlife Biologists with an on-going bobcat habitat study. During the fall and winter months, our aviculturists attempt to live capture bobcats on Conservancy grounds. During the 2017 season, one male bobcat was captured and DEEP Biologists affixed the bobcat with a GPS collar before releasing him back into the wild. Over the next several months GPS locations were tracked in order to assess bobcat habitat usage. On August 1, 2018 the collar automatically detached allowing biologists to reuse the collar for a new study area.